In the expansive and perilous world of New World, where every battle tests a player's skill and strategy, the introduction of artifacts has revolutionized combat builds. Among these, "The Butcher The Butcher" artifact stands out as a game-changer for bleed-focused players. This legendary weapon, steeped in lore and dripping with power, has become a coveted asset for those who thrive on inflicting sustained damage over time. With New World Gold coins serving as the backbone of Aeternum's economy, securing this artifact or enhancing its potential through upgrades often requires significant investment, making it a prize worth pursuing.

The Lore Behind The Butcher The Butcher

The Butcher The Butcher is a great axe artifact in New World, shrouded in a grim yet captivating backstory. According to in-game lore, this weapon was forged in the blood-soaked forges of an ancient warlord known only as "The Crimson Reaver." Legends say the axe was imbued with a malevolent spirit that thirsts for carnage, granting its wielder unparalleled prowess in battle but at the cost of a relentless drive for destruction. Its name, repeated for emphasis, reflects its dual nature: a tool of slaughter and a symbol of unrelenting aggression. This lore not only adds depth to the weapon but also makes it a fitting choice for players who embrace a ruthless playstyle.

Why Bleed Specialists Love The Butcher The Butcher

Bleed-focused builds in New World rely on stacking damage-over-time (DoT) effects to wear down enemies gradually while maintaining battlefield control. The Butcher The Butcher is tailor-made for this strategy, offering unique perks that amplify bleed damage and synergize with great axe abilities. Its primary perk, Sanguine Feast, increases bleed damage by 20% for every bleed effect active on the target, stacking up to three times for a potential 60% boost. This makes it devastating against high-health enemies like PvE bosses or tanky PvP opponents.

Additionally, the artifact comes with Keen Edge, which boosts critical hit chance by 10% when attacking bleeding targets, and Vicious, adding 11% critical damage. These perks create a feedback loop where bleeds lead to more frequent and powerful critical hits, which in turn allow players to apply more bleeds through abilities like Reap or Mauler's Fury. For players who pair the great axe with weapons like the hatchet or spear-both of which have bleed-inducing abilities-The Butcher The Butcher becomes a cornerstone of their build.

Synergizing with Great Axe Abilities

The great axe's skill trees, Mauler and Reaper, are designed for crowd control and sustained damage, making them a perfect match for The Butcher The Butcher. The Reap ability, which pulls enemies closer and applies a bleed, benefits immensely from Sanguine Feast's damage multiplier. Combining Reap with Execute, a high-damage finisher that deals bonus damage to low-health targets, allows players to capitalize on weakened, bleeding foes. The Mauler tree's Gravity Well can trap enemies in place, ensuring they take the full brunt of bleed ticks while the player swings away with the artifact's enhanced criticals.

For optimal performance, players should prioritize talents like Blood Lust (increases movement speed when attacking bleeding enemies) and Insatiable Gravity Well (extends the duration of crowd control effects). These talents amplify the artifact's strengths, turning the wielder into a relentless predator who can chase down or lock in opponents while their health drains away.

PvE Applications: Dominating Aeternum's Beasts

In PvE, The Butcher The Butcher shines against New World's toughest creatures, such as Corrupted Breaches or Expedition bosses. Its bleed amplification makes short work of high-health targets like the Spriggan or Isabella's lieutenants in the Tempest's Heart Expedition. By stacking bleeds and leveraging critical hits, players can maintain consistent DPS without relying solely on burst damage, which is crucial in prolonged fights. Pairing the artifact with gear that boosts Constitution or Strength, alongside gems like Cut Pristine Onyx for increased physical damage, further enhances its effectiveness.

The artifact's utility extends to group content, where bleed specialists can complement teammates who focus on burst or crowd control. For example, a healer using the Life Staff can keep the bleed specialist alive while they whittle down enemies, creating a balanced and synergistic team dynamic. The Butcher The Butcher's ability to maintain pressure on enemies also makes it ideal for solo players tackling open-world content, as the bleed damage continues even when dodging or repositioning.

PvP Applications: Bleeding Out the Competition

In PvP, The Butcher The Butcher is a nightmare for opponents who rely on mobility or burst healing. The great axe's inherent crowd control, combined with the artifact's bleed amplification, allows players to lock down and outlast foes. Abilities like Charge and Gravity Well ensure enemies can't escape the bleed ticks, while Sanguine Feast's scaling damage punishes those who try to tank through the fight. The critical hit boosts from Keen Edge and Vicious also make the artifact deadly in duels, where a single well-timed Execute can finish off a bleeding opponent.

To maximize PvP performance, players should consider gear with perks like Resilient (reduces incoming critical damage) and Freedom (reduces crowd control duration), as these help mitigate the vulnerabilities of a melee-focused build. Runeglass gems, such as Ignited Runeglass for additional DoT synergy, can further enhance the artifact's lethality. In large-scale PvP modes like Outpost Rush or War, The Butcher The Butcher allows players to focus on high-priority targets like healers or DPS, applying relentless pressure through bleeds while surviving with proper positioning and support.

Acquiring The Butcher The Butcher

Obtaining The Butcher The Butcher is no easy feat, as it is a rare drop from specific high-level content. It can be found in elite chests within endgame zones like Ebonscale Reach or as a reward from defeating certain world bosses, such as the Corrupted Overlord in Myrkgard. The drop rate is low, requiring players to grind consistently or coordinate with groups to increase their chances. Alternatively, some players opt to trade for it on the in-game market, where it commands a high price in New World Gold coins due to its rarity and power. For those looking to optimize their build quickly, investing gold in the artifact or its complementary gear is often a worthwhile choice.

Upgrading and Complementing the Artifact

Once acquired, The Butcher The Butcher can be enhanced through New World's crafting and upgrade systems. Using umbral shards to increase its gear score to 625 maximizes its base damage and perk effectiveness. Players should also seek armor with perks like Bleed Empower (increases damage to bleeding targets) or Refreshing (reduces cooldowns) to complement the artifact's playstyle. Jewelry, such as amulets with Health or Divine perks, can provide survivability, while a ring with Hearty (increases max stamina) supports aggressive melee engagements.

For gem slots, Cut Pristine Ruby or Malachite gems are ideal, as they boost overall damage or add additional DoT effects. Crafting or purchasing these gems often requires significant New World Gold coins, but the investment pays off in the form of a cohesive and devastating bleed build.

The Butcher The Butcher in the Meta

As of October 2025, New World's meta continues to evolve, with bleed builds gaining traction due to their versatility and sustained damage output. The Butcher The Butcher has cemented its place as a top-tier artifact for both PvE and PvP, rivaling other legendary weapons like the Void Gauntlet's Annihilator or the Bow's Tempest's Call. Its ability to synergize with multiple weapons and playstyles makes it a flexible choice for players who want to adapt to different scenarios without sacrificing power.

Conclusion: A Weapon Worth the Grind

The Butcher The Butcher is more than just a weapon; it's a statement of intent for players who revel in the slow, satisfying destruction of their enemies. Its bleed-focused perks, synergy with great axe abilities, and versatility in both PvE and PvP make it a dream for specialists who want to dominate Aeternum's battlefields. While acquiring it may require patience, luck, or a hefty sum of New World Gold coins, its impact on gameplay is undeniable. For those looking to secure this artifact or bolster their build, options to buy New World Gold through trusted in-game markets can provide the resources needed to claim this legendary weapon and carve their name into New World's history.